The ideal Christmas gift for a foodie. Tickets for the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival

The National Geographic Traveller (UK) Food Festival is back for 2024, returning to London for its fourth installment with a host of new features and a fresh line-up of big-name contributors, including headliner Nadiya Hussain.

The TV chef, best-selling author and winner of the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off, will appear on the Main Stage on Saturday 20 July, where she’ll be treating visitors to a live cooking demonstration peppered with tales from her own kitchen.

The Main Stage

Nadiya will be joined by a host of big-name chefs, cooks and food personalities on the Main Stage, who’ll be cooking up some of their signature dishes. Visitors can look forward to demonstrations by the likes of Nisha Katona, Matt Tebbutt, Ravneet Gill and Richard Corrigan. Expect further announcements over the coming months.

Authors’ Area, Masterclass Theatres & More

In the authors’ area, visitors can catch interviews with writers behind some of the most exciting recent food releases. Elsewhere, the Masterclass Theatres offer attendees the special chance to pick up cookery tips from guest chefs representing cuisines from all over the world, while the newly expanded Wine & Spirits Theatre will host a programme of expert-led tutorials and tasting sessions.

Looking ahead to next year’s show, Glen Mutel, editor of Food by National Geographic Traveller (UK) says: “It’s great to be back on the festival calendar and I’m confident the 2024 edition will be our best ever. Not only will we welcome some of the food world’s most exciting talent to our stages, but we’ll be combining new ideas and fresh features with all the elements that have made the festival so memorable in previous years.”

Festive Ticket Offer

Tickets are on sale now, just in time for Christmas gifting to the foodies in your life. It's the perfect Christmas gift for food lovers and travel enthusiasts, single day tickets are currently £10 plus booking fees- and that’s a third off the full ticket price.

foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk

nationalgeographic.com/travel

Find them on Facebook: facebook.com/NatGeoTravelUK

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The National Geographic Traveller (UK) digital edition is available for Apple, Android and Kindle devices: ngtr.uk/NGTdigital

Pope Francis backs Snoop Dogg Christmas song to end homelessness now

In the UK over 160,000 people are homeless. Just off London's Oxford Street, in fashionable Mayfair village, a homeless film director and London band teamed up with Rapper Snoop Dogg to end homelessness now. 

When the hip hop beats of Hard Times and Snoop Dogg's inimitable flow reached the ears of 87 year old Pope Francis he loved it so much he issued, there and then, a Papal Blessing for the charitable endeavour.

Hard Times ft Snoop Dogg

Homeless film director, David Fussell, met London musicians Ooberfuse at the Homeless Restaurant which provides restaurant style meals to Oxford Street's rough sleepers. After a few jamming sessions Hard Times was born. 

Fussell says "the searching lyrics tell the homeless issue from a new point of view. The story isn't told from an on-looker's point of view like the great Phil Collins song Another Day in Paradise. Rather, Hard Times tells the story in the first person, drawing on real pain 'shivering in the cold and the rain'. Hard Times makes it clear being made homeless could happen to anyone of us. It starts 'I never thought that it would be like this / Sleeping in a doorway on the streets like this....'"

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, emphasises "the importance of caring for the most vulnerable in society' and urges that we seize opportunities like this 'to build a more fraternal world."

Twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday, a group of volunteers from Central London Catholic Churches distribute food donated by Mayfair eateries like The Connaught and The Mayfair Chippy to the tables of London's rough sleepers in Farm Street's Arrupe Hall.

Hal, a musician from ooberfuse, says "the guy who runs the project, Dominic Robinson is like a modern day Robin Hood! 

"He literally goes to the swankiest restaurants in Mayfair and takes food destined for the sophisticated palettes of the super-wealthy and puts it on the tables of the homeless in Arrupe Hall. It's next level wealth-redistribution!"

(Image courtesy of Myriams-Fotos of Pixabay)

Want to know which UK supermarket has the cheapest vegan Christmas dinner? Adventrum has the answer for you

The festive season is very much upon us, and the most prepared Brits out there will have already started planning for the big day and everything that comes with it, from the presents to the parties, and most importantly, the Christmas dinner.

With so many components to put together, it can be hard to know where the best one-stop shop is to get all your Christmas dinner ingredients. Particularly, if you are vegetarian, or are catering for a vegetarian.

While cutting expensive meat items such as pigs and blankets and a turkey crown can certainly help to cut costs, there remains a need to plan a budget, and sometimes it's less obvious how much veggie-friendly supplements will cost.

Thankfully, Adventrum has crunched the numbers and costed up the price of a veggie-friendly Christmas dinner at six of the UK’s top supermarkets. 

1. Aldi - £28.20

2. Tesco - £32.84

3. Asda - £33.22

4. Morrisons - £33.71

5. Sainsbury’s - £34.60

6. Waitrose - £53.24

There’s probably no surprise that Aldi comes in as the cheapest supermarket for a vegetarian Christmas dinner, with the total cost of the full meal being a mere £28.20. The cheapest vegetarian Christmas dinner component at Aldi is the 15-pack of Yorkshire Puddings priced at only £0.46.

In second place is Tesco, where a full vegetarian Christmas dinner came in at £32.84. For chocolate lovers, Tesco is the cheapest supermarket to pick up a Cadbury’s selection box, as they cost £1.50 with a Clubcard membership.

Not far behind in third place is Asda, where a full vegetarian Christmas dinner costs approximately £33.22. However, the Quorn Vegetarian Roast was cheaper at Asda than any other supermarket at just £3.00.

Morrisons placed fourth with a full cost of £33.71. However, this supermarket had one of the most expensive turkey crowns (£31.47), meaning the biggest savings are on offer for meat-eaters switching to the vegetarian option this Christmas.

Sainsbury’s placed fifth, as a vegetarian Christmas dinner from this supermarket was found to cost an estimated £34.60. 

Finally, Waitrose was the most expensive supermarket by some distance at £53.24. A big factor in Waitrose being so much more expensive was the vegetarian turkey supplement costing a massive £16.00. But it must be said that one surprise bargain to be found is that Maris Piper potatoes are 5p cheaper at Waitrose (£1.65) than they are at Aldi (£1.70).

The study used a Quorn Vegetarian Roast as the turkey supplement at Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. For Aldi and Waitrose, the home-brand products that most closely resembled the Quorn Vegetarian Roast were used, as the Quorn product was unavailable. 

That's Christmas would like to thank Adventrum for sharing their research data with us. You can check out Adventrum at https://adventrum.com. 

(Image courtesy of MM from Pixabay)

 

Stir Up Sunday Comes Early to The Food WorksSW

Stir Up Sunday, the Victorian tradition of stirring the mixture for Christmas pudding and making a wish, has come early to North Somerset's The Food WorksSW with Butcombe Brewery. 

In preparation for the busy festive season in their pubs, the Bristol-based brewery recently produced enough Christmas pudding mixture to make 1,000 Christmas puddings at the food and drink innovation centre in Weston-super-Mare. 

As well as making Christmas pudding, Butcombe's chefs from across the country, including chefs from  the Liberation pub group in Jersey, spent a week in the specialist kitchens at The Food WorksSW perfecting some of the brewery's delicious Christmas creations and training for the holiday season under the watchful eye of Butcombe's Head Development Chef Jasper Prickett. 

Forthcoming delicious festive dishes prepared by the chefs included sticky figgy pudding, toffee apple, fig and chestnut crumble, mince pie ice cream, gilt head bream and Ox Cheek Wellington.

Butcombe Brewery hires the state-of-the-art kitchens at The Food WorksSW for menu development, training and business meetings throughout the year and make full use of the food and drink innovation centre's specialist equipment and spacious well-equipped kitchens.

Jasper says, “The Christmas pudding mixture we made in the commercial kitchen at The Food WorksSW is now currently steeping and will be ready to be shaped and steamed for the festive season and sent to all our pubs for Christmas Day."

He added: "We're really big fans of The Food WorksSW and we absolutely love it there. It offers so much and meets all our needs for menu development, training, equipment, storage, even meeting space. It's also in a great location just off the motorway so it's easy for all our staff to get to.”

Zoe Plant, who is new product and innovation manager said, “Whether it's equipment you need or expert technical advice, if you are a food or drink brand, be it big or small, you'll find everything you need at Food WorksSW and at very reasonable rates, too. You can hire any of our five specialist kitchens for just one day if that's all you require as we understand everyone's needs and budgets are different.

"Our top-of-the-range equipment within each of our kitchens, like the commercial kitchen Butcombe used, really do offer the perfect space for chefs and producers the chance to come in, experiment, develop and fine-tune food and drink products or menus.”

The only centre of its kind in the south west, The Food WorksSW is based in the heart of the Weston-super-Mare Enterprise Area, under half an hour from Bristol, and close to Junction 21 of the M5 motorway.

"It has state-of-the-art facilities including five product development kitchens available for flexible short-term contract hire for food and drink businesses of all sizes to test, develop and manufacture their products, prices begin at start just £96.90 per day (inc VAT).

Technical support packages are also available at the centre where a team of food industry experts provide technical support to businesses navigating their way through a range of food disciplines, from new product development and quality assurance, hygiene and food safety and efficiency. The team helps food and drink businesses develop products in a safe and efficient way.

For more information on how The Food WorksSW can help businesses, visit them at foodworks-sw.co.uk, or stay up-to-date follow @foodworks_sw on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. A range of case studies can be found on the website and on The Food WorksSW YouTube.

Worried about prices this year? Have no fear! Aldi's Christmas Price Lock is Here!

New research from Aldi has learned that some 40% of us plan to ‘spend less on Christmas food’ compared to last year, because of the cost-of-living crisis.

With 35% saying they plan to scale back on Christmas celebrations in general.

In response, Aldi has announced a special ‘Christmas Price Lock,’ with dinner staples including Christmas pudding and pigs in blankets locked at 2022 prices.

This means a family of four can eat for under £15 – the cheapest of all the major supermarkets.

Aldi are also committing even further by going lower on fresh whole turkey prices compared to last year.

With Christmas next month, the research from Aldi has revealed over1 in 3 (35%) Brits are worried about the cost of Christmas, and are planning to scale back celebrations this year due to rising costs. 

The supermarket has found 40% of us are planning to spend less on Christmas food compared to last year, while nearly 1 in 5 are planning to invite fewer people to their Christmas meal, with aunties and uncles topping the list of those most likely to be uninvited (15%), closely followed by mothers-in-law (12%) and fathers-in-law (11%). The selfless among us (16%) said they were even considering uninviting themselves from Christmas, to save costs for friends and family.

In response to this and to ensure as many people as possible can celebrate Christmas to the fullest this year, Aldi has announced a ‘Christmas Price Lock’, which will see prices of key food staples including a range of whole turkey crowns, pigs in blankets, Christmas puddings, and festive vegetables remain the same as they were in 2022. 

The Aldi Price Lock, which will be available in stores all over the country, could see a family of four enjoying their Christmas meal for under £15. What’s more, three of Aldi’s fresh turkey lines will be even cheaper than 2022 at just £3.75 per kg this Christmas.

The Price Lock comes as 2 in 5 Brits admitted they were planning on curbing the amount they spend on the Christmas meal due to rising food costs, with roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, and even the turkey all in the running to be cut back or removed from this year’s spread, despite being among the most popular elements of the entire meal.

Aldi has announced the Price Lock ahead of November, when over a quarter of Brits (26%) start buying food for the Christmas day meal. However almost 1 in 5 (17%) of those surveyed admit they’re spreading the cost of the big day, starting to stock up on items in the sales, with chocolate, wine, and Christmas pudding topping the list of items already stashed away.

A breakdown of the Aldi Christmas Price Lock items can be seen above.

Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK commented: “At Aldi we believe everyone should get to enjoy an amazing Christmas, which is why we’re introducing the Aldi Christmas Price Lock. Our research proves cost is a major factor when it comes to choosing food options and by locking the prices of key staples at the level they were in 2022, it will help our customers up and down the country enjoy the Christmas dinner they deserve with the ones they love.”

Thanks to Aldi’s Christmas Price Lock, Brits can now enjoy the Christmas dinner they deserve, for the same price as last year, with the nation’s favourite Christmas dinner items, turkey and pigs in blankets making the list. This comes in just as Aldi has been named the cheapest supermarket for the 16th consecutive month, by Consumer group Which?.

Now that Aldi shoppers can invite the same amount of people as last year, who would be the dream person at the table? The research found Sir David Attenborough voted as the most desired person to share a meal with (25%), followed by Stephen Fry (16%) and David Beckham (12%). What’s more, 6% said they’d invite Tyson Fury, beating Kim Kardashian and Britney Spears.  

Products which form the Aldi Price Lock are available across the following dates this festive period:

Turkey available from 19th December

Holly Lane Christmas Pudding 400g available in stores now

Butcher’s Select Pigs in Blankets available from 24th November

Super Six Festive Vegetables available from 18th December

www.aldi.co.uk

Asda customers can pick up Christmas dinner for a family of six, for just £4.17 per head

This year, Asda customers can purchase a frozen Christmas dinner for six for just £25, working out at only £4.17 per head.

Including a turkey crown and seven sides, the same products are cheaper this year, than they were in 2022.

This offering will support families looking to cut the cost of Christmas this year, after Asda’s Income Tracker reveals disposable income continues to fall for 60% of UK households.

As Christmas gets ever nearer and households look for ways to start spreading the cost, Asda customers can stock up on frozen Christmas dinner essentials in advance, packing the freezer to feed a family of six for a mere £4.17 per head.

Now available to purchase in-store and online, the same products would have cost a total of £27.29 last Christmas in 2022, meaning this year, Asda customers can pick up a Christmas dinner for even cheaper, saving £2.29.

Plus, customers don’t have to buy all of the products to get the best value, as every product has reduced in price since Christmas 2022.

The list of frozen Christmas dinner products, that will feed a family of six for just £25 are:

Asda Frozen Medium British Turkey Crown (2.2kg) – now £16, was £16.50 in 2022  

Asda Frozen Maple Pigs in Blankets (232g) – now £2.25, was £2.50 in 2022 

Asda Frozen Yorkshire Puddings (220g) – now 98p, was 99p in 2022 

Asda Frozen Pork, Sage and Onion Stuffing Balls (400g) – now £1.80, was £2.25 in 2022 

Asda Frozen Parsnips (680g) – now £1.25, was £1.80 in 2022 

Asda Frozen Brussels Sprouts (1kg) – now £1, was £1.25 in 2022 

Asda Frozen Crispy Roast Potatoes (800g) – now 75p, was 80p in 2022 

Asda Frozen Sliced Carrots (1kg) – now 97p, was £1.09 in 2022 

This announcement follows Asda’s latest round of price cuts on 232 branded and own-label products, as part of its continued support for families impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. Insight from Asda’s latest income tracker also reveals that despite improvements in inflation figures, disposable income continues to fall for 60% of UK households, compared to the same time last year, with the lowest earning households having a deficit of £72 in disposable income per week.

According to research commissioned by the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF), 38% of people are buying more frozen food than last year, further showing the impact inflation is having on consumer spending.

Smart Asda customers are already saving up for Christmas using the Christmas Saver Cashpot in the Asda Rewards app, after its launch in August. The feature enables customers to transfer savings from their Cashpot into their Christmas Saver Cashpot as many times as they’d like, up to a maximum amount of £300 in total.

For customers planning ahead, Christmas grocery delivery and click and collect slots are already available to book online at Asda.com or via the Asda app. With over one million slots available in Christmas week, shoppers can get ahead of the festive season by adding their frozen dinner to their baskets early.

"Boost Your Business for Free with That's Food and Drink & That's Christmas Blogs"

In the digital age, online presence is a crucial aspect of promoting your business. With countless marketing strategies available, it's often challenging to find cost-effective ways to reach a wider audience. 

However, two valuable resources stand out - That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas blogs. These popular platforms offer businesses a unique opportunity to promote themselves for free. In this blog post, we'll explore how these blogs can help your business gain visibility, build credibility, and drive engagement without breaking the bank. (Yes, we are blowing our own trumpets. But if not us, who else?)

1. Showcase Your Products and Services

One of the most effective ways to promote your business is by showcasing your products or services. Whether you're in the food and beverage industry or have Christmas-themed offerings, That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas blogs provide a platform to feature what you have to offer. These blogs often have a dedicated section for business features or product spotlights. By submitting your business or product, you can reach their large, engaged audience who are already interested in your niche.

2. Gain Credibility and Trust

Being featured on reputable blogs can significantly boost your business's credibility. Both That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas blogs have earned their readers' trust by consistently providing high-quality content. When your business gets mentioned on these blogs, potential customers are more likely to trust your brand. This is an excellent way to build a positive reputation and influence the decision-making process of your target audience.

3. Reach a Targeted Audience

The key to successful promotion is reaching the right audience. That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas blogs are specialized in their respective niches, which means they have a dedicated readership interested in food, beverages, and Christmas-related topics. This focused audience is more likely to engage with your content and convert into customers, making it a valuable opportunity for businesses in these sectors.

4. SEO Benefits

Getting featured on these blogs can also have indirect but powerful SEO benefits. When your business is mentioned in a well-established blog, it creates valuable backlinks to your website. These backlinks can improve your website's search engine ranking, making it easier for potential customers to find your business when searching online.

5. Social Media Exposure

Both blogs have active social media profiles and regularly share their featured content. When your business is featured, it's likely to be shared across their social media channels, giving you additional exposure to a broader audience. This can lead to increased brand recognition and engagement on social platforms.

6. Leverage the Christmas Season

For That's Christmas, the Christmas season is a perfect time to gain exposure. Businesses related to Christmas gifts, decorations, and festivities can leverage the blog's holiday-themed content to showcase their offerings and generate more sales during this peak period.

7. Networking Opportunities

Engaging with That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas blogs also opens doors to networking opportunities. You may connect with other businesses in your industry, exchange ideas, and potentially collaborate on future projects.

In conclusion, That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas blogs offer businesses valuable exposure and promotion opportunities for free. By leveraging their established platforms, businesses can reach a targeted audience, gain credibility, improve SEO, and enjoy the benefits of social media exposure. If you want to increase your brand's visibility and grow your customer base without breaking the bank, consider reaching out to these blogs for potential features. It's a cost-effective way to enhance your marketing efforts and build a strong online presence for your business.

To learn how we can help you for free (There's a reason why we have Google Adsense on our blogs!) please send an email to us at afj_uk@yahoo.com.

Trewithen Dairy 'Cornish Clotted Cream' Is a Christmas Season Essential

Rich, luxuriously thick and golden, Trewithen Dairy's award-winning 'Cornish Clotted Cream' is the only accompaniment to enjoy with those festive treats this Christmas. 

Whether it's the crowning glory of a warm mince pie, slathered shamelessly on a Christmas pudding, or used as an ingredient in sweet or savoury cooked dishes to add an unmistakable lushness, no dish is complete without a pot of Trewithen Dairy 'Cornish Clotted Cream'.

Made using methods that have been handed down for generations, Trewithen Dairy produces the most delicious 'Cornish Clotted Cream' using high-quality Cornish milk from well-cared-for cows that are raised and grazed on Cornwall's lush pastures. 

Deep river valleys and undulating land create a unique grass-growing landscape for dairy farming, resulting in the delicious flavour of the milk. This flavour is achieved through a perfect balance of butterfat and protein.

Their holistic approach to 'the perfect blend', is achieved from the rich diversity of herds, and working with a close network of farming families who share the same ethical and responsible practices. It's this combination that contributes to the taste and overall quality. Trewithen Dairy 'Cornish Clotted Cream' is registered as a Protected Designation of Origin product meaning it has received official recognition for its unique characteristics, production methods, and geographical origin. 

It's also really easy to cook with clotted cream and there's a fine selection of inspiring festive recipes here such as a no-churn Christmas Pudding Ice cream, Creamy Brussel Sprout Gratin, Tipsy Trifles and a Festive Meringue Wreath. 

Trewithen Dairy 'Cornish Clotted Cream' is available in 200g direct from select Asda, Co-op and Spar stores throughout the South West, via Ocado.com, and from November, it will be on the shelves in Tesco. RRP £2.45.

Look out for Trewithen Dairy's '12 Days of Christmas' festive recipe selection across Instagram and Facebook in the run-up to Christmas for further seasonal inspiration. 

Trewithen Dairy reveals a sense of great pride to be a sponsor of the Guild of Food Writers' Awards 2023.

Trewithen Dairy has been recognised as a champion food producer of the West Country, and most recently awarded Gold by the Taste of the West judging panel for 2023, for both their salted butter and traditional 'Cornish Clotted Cream'. 

https://www.trewithendairy.co.uk

How to make sure you have a great Christmas without breaking the bank

How to make sure you have a great Christmas without breaking the bank?

Make a list of every item of food and drink that you will need for your Christmas feasting and dining.

And every time you go food shopping between now and Christmas buy one of those items and tick it off your list and place the food and drink items that you are amassing in your pantry, in a large box, etc. But do check that the use by date isn't before Christmas.

But do make sure that everyone in your household know that those items are not to be eaten or drunk before Christmas.

And as for presents and gifts, why not try your hand at crafting and making very special Christmas presents for family members and friends? 

You can even buy a modestly priced wicker hampers from The Works https://www.theworks.co.uk and fill them up with goodies! These make excellent presents and leaves the lucky recipient with a very useful wicker basket, too! 

Please refer back to this blogpost to learn how you can get making and crafting 

https://thatschristmas.blogspot.com/2023/08/why-not-try-crafting-for-christmas.html

Eat, Drink and Be Merry With a Luxury Christmas Hamper from DukesHill

Justifiably famed for stupendously awesome artisanal luxury hampers including its hamper like no other, the Truly Magnificent, priced at £895, DukesHill has a standout collection available for this Christmas.

Filled to the very brim with the finest artisan food and drink, DukesHill's luxury hamper collection celebrates the very best of Britain's artisan producers - including their own expertly cured hams that carry a Royal Warrant awarded by Queen Elizabeth II, creating hampers of quality, taste and exceptional provenance to gift or enjoy this Christmas.

Christmas Hamper Highlights

Truly Magnificent Hamper - £895

39 items, 2 x 20” wicker hampers with leather straps

The Truly Magnificent Hamper certainly does live up to its luxurious name. Thirty nine individual items are nestled across not one but two wicker hampers creating a Christmas classic. 

At its very heart is a boneless Large St George's Ham, cured by DukesHill's experts and baked with a spiced orange, cinnamon, mace and clove glaze, closely followed by a whole sliced side of superior oak traditionally Smoked Salmon. 

Included is a fine selection of artisan cheeses, chutneys, crackers, sables and a duck liver pâté with Cointreau along with a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, crafted and baked exclusively for DukesHill.

There are, of course, some delightful sweet treats, including DukesHill's Extra Large Christmas Pudding and a selection of handmade artisan mince pies unique to DukesHill: St Clements, Classic and Almond-topped flavours to add to your feast.  

You'll also discover Peaches in Brandy, handmade Scottish Shortbread direct from Loch Lomond, Turkish Delight, and for chocolate lovers, Blonde Chocolate Coffee & Caramelised Hazelnut Mendiants, Dark Chocolate Roasted Almond & Ginger Mendiants, an Extra Large Chocolate Selection box, Chocolate Covered Pecans and Milk Chocolate Covered Honeycomb that's made in small batches using real honey and the finest Colombian milk chocolate. A selection of fine wines and champagne complete this gourmet journey in a hamper.

It's A Wonderful Life - £195

14 items, 20” wicker hamper with leather straps

A carefully curated selection of the very best that's available from of DukesHill, It's A Wonderful Life pulls out all the stops this season with DukesHill's legendary boneless Wiltshire Ham and signature traditional Oak Smoked Salmon.  

Seasonal savouries include Isle of Mull Cheddar, Cote Hill Blue Cheese, Boxing Day Chutney, Scottish Oatcakes, Parmesan & Pistachio Sables and DukesHill's exclusive Pork Rillettes, made by slowly cooking pork belly with peppers, spices and Espelette pepper. A Family Christmas Pudding, Classic Mince Pies, handmade Scottish Shortbread, Milk Chocolate Honeycomb and Grandad's Light Fruit Cake Loaf made with almonds, butter, cherries, vine fruits and mixed spice are the sweet picks on offer, alongside a bottle of Tanners creamy, biscuity Cava Brut to toast the season.

Bah! Humbug - £95

12 items, 14” wicker hamper with leather straps

However, please rest assured that there's certainly nothing Scrooge-like about the Bah! Humbug hamper with its Honey Baked Baby Ham cured by DukesHill's very own experts, Sliced Oak Smoked Salmon and Pork Rillettes, exclusive to DukesHill and made by slowly cooking pork belly with peppers, spices and Espelette pepper. 

Also included is Barbers Black Waxed Cheddar to try with a spoonful of Fig Chutney, a jar of Cocktail Nuts, DukesHill's moist and rich Christmas Pudding, a mini classic Panettone, handmade Scottish shortbread from Loch Lomond, Milk Chocolate Crunchy Biscuit & Caramelised Pecan Mendiants, Milk Chocolate Honeycomb and a festive Gingerbread Blonde Chocolate bar.

The Chocolatier's Collection Hamper - £95

7 Items • 14” Wicker Basket with Leather Straps

Exquisitely and beautifully presented, this chocolate lover's dream contains an ingenious hot chocolate shaker to enjoy the most velvety smooth hot chocolate at home, along with three bags of artisan chocolate; milk chocolate drops, indulgent dark chocolate orange flakes and delicious blonde chocolate flakes. 

This exceptional collection also boasts a box of 16 beautifully hand decorated special Christmas truffles produced by artisan chocolatiers, alongside two bars of luxury-tasting chocolate in the most delicious flavours: Pistachio & Cranberry Chocolate and Marmalade Dark Chocolate.

Deck The Halls Hamper - £60 

7 Items • 14” Wicker basket with leather straps

A DukesHill artisan tasting experience in a hamper, this contains a carefully selected collection of the very best handmade and British produced products including a delicious Fig Chutney, Parmesan & Pistachio Sablés, Classic Panettone, a tin of melt-in-the-mouth Scottish Shortbread handmade in Loch Lomond, a festive tasting Gingerbread Blonde Chocolate Bar, DukesHill's family recipe Christmas Pudding, and a 75cl bottle of a biscuit, creamy cava Brut from Tanners.

(EDITOR: This reminds me. My wife and I need to pop in to Tanners to sort out our Christmas wine order, as Tanners are our local wine merchants.)

To learn more and to place your orders please visit DukesHill's website https://www.dukeshillham.co.uk

Over the next few months That's Christmas will come out of hibernation

Yes, over the next few months That's Christmas will come out of hibernation and we will be bringing our readers all the latest news on Christmas gifting ideas, plus how to source items for delightful homemade Christmas gifts and trinkets.

That's Christmas will also be carrying news and features on Christmas season foods and drinks, plus Christmas-related foods and special seasonal drinks.

So please, watch this space!

And if you have news of a Christmas-related product or service that you would like to share with our readers, please email us at afj_uk@yahoo.com

Aldi for Christmas

Over the next several days, That's Christmas and sister site That's Food and Drink will be writing articles about the special seasonal foods and drinks (including speciality spirits, liquors, wines and beers) that are available from Aldi.

The quality is far higher than some 'nationally known' food brands and all at far keener prices, too.

Please keep an eye out for these articles. Because they'll tell you how with Aldi you will be able to host the perfect Chirstmas and New year and all at prices that you might think went out of fashion, years ago!

Get creative this Christmas Original festive recipe ideas

Ever get bored of serving up the same old seasonal dishes at Christmas? Then why not try this round up of fresh festive serving suggestions. Using firm seasonal favourites like Brussels sprouts and hazelnuts, this round up of original festive recipe ideas are guaranteed to impress guests. And should there be any food left over, we’ve also included a few ‘love your leftovers’ suggestions ideal for turkey, sprouts and spuds

Festive Starters
Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts, Potatoes and Ham, served on Sourdough Toasted Bread - Surprise guests with this fresh take on Brussels Sprouts. Boiled until just soft and served on top of toast with ham, Brussels make a wonderful light starter.

Xanthe Clay’s Beetroot-stained Smoked Salmon with beetroot and walnuts – this modern alternative to the traditional smoked salmon starter is great for adding a splash of colour on the festive table

Japanese style Radish and Rare Beef Roll-ups - Featuring ruby red radishes and bright green water cress, these delicious canapés are the perfect colours for a Christmas party spread.

Seasonal Sides
Creamed Brussels sprouts with nutmeg – creamy and full of flavour, this delicious side dish will have even the most adamant Brussels haters begging for more

Tenderstem® with Hazelnut & Orange Butter – Christmas memories are filled with bowls of nuts by the fire and oranges in the bottom of your stocking and this recipe uses both these flavours to create a delicious modern side dish

Jo Pratt’s Tenderstem®, Chantenay Carrot and Brussel Sauté - mix the Brussels up a bit this year with this yummy vegetable sauté

Just desserts
Pink Lady® Apple and Mincemeat Tarts - A lighter alternative to traditional mice pies, these simple tarts combine melt in the mouth pastry filled with fresh apples and mincemeat to give a really fresh twist to a Christmas classic.

Beetroot, Raisin & Stem Ginger Pudding – This is a fabulous wintery pudding for those looking for an alternative to the traditional Christmas pud, and with a bit of custard drizzled on top, looks almost exactly the same.

Love your leftovers
Brussels Sprout and Chopin Potato Croquettes – these tasty croquettes are a great way to use up leftover sprouts

Shallot and Sprout Bubble and Squeak Cakes – use up left over roast potatoes and sprouts with these tasty bubble and squeak cakes. Great with cold turkey and cranberry sauce!

Diana Henry’s Tenderstem® Nasi Goreng - Spice up Boxing Day and beyond with Diana Henry’s Tenderstem® Nasi Goreng. This recipe is guaranteed to be a family favourite and can be easily adapted to suit what you already have in the house i.e. a lot of left over turkey!

Recipes provided by:

Beetroot – www.lovebeetroot.co.uk

Love Your Greens (sprouts) – www.loveyourgreens.co.uk

Pink Lady® apples – www.pinkladyapples.co.uk

Radish – www.loveradish.co.uk

Tenderstem® broccoli – www.tenderstem.co.uk

UK Shallots – www.ukshallot.com

"Spend responsibly this Christmas" Plea from Christmashamper.com

According to a recent study carried out by HSBC, one in 10 UK shoppers will buy their presents online this year.

“It is great news for the online shopping companies, with many e-tailers offering savings and deals on products that cannot be found anywhere else”, says ChristmasHamper.com, a top UK luxury Christmas hamper company.

The study also showed signs of family's cutting back on their spending throughout the festive period. With 22% planning on spending less this year, than in 2010. An expected reduction since the rise of living costs have swept the entire nation in recent years.

Among those who are planning on spending money on presents for immediate family, 78% will try and save money by other means. By making different choices and changing the type of gifts purchased can help achieve further savings.

With an approximate spend of £378 on gifts for immediate family, ChristmasHamper.com ask consumers to think about consolidating the total spend for family this year and give a present that can be shared and enjoyed by everyone. Christmas hampers are full of luxurious savoury and sweet foods and wine that can be shared and enjoyed by all, throughout Christmas day and throughout the festive season.

A spokesperson from the luxury Christmas hamper company ChristmasHamper.com says: “These findings have proved that families require good value for money in times of hardship and we are proud to be able to offer luxury Christmas hampers for all families and all budgets this Christmas. Our exciting range of Christmas gift hampers start from only £19.99.”

They went on to state: "Don't forget to order your Christmas Hamper today. You can rely on ChristmasHamper.com in providing excellent quality and a first class service."

FACTFILE:

ChristmasHamper.com owned and managed by Highland Fayre Ltd. have been supplying Luxury Christmas Hampers, since 1985, to thousands of corporate and private customers throughout the UK and Europe, becoming Scotland’s premier hamper company.

How to impress the foodie in your life with Fussels!

You can impress the foodie in your life this Christmas with a little assistance from those clever people down at Fussels.

For they have used all of their expertise to get together and design the Fussels' Gift Box!

What is contained within the Fussels' Gift Box?

Everthing the foodie in your life could want or desire!

Fussels are, as you will be well aware, renowned for their expertise in growing, harvesting and storing rapeseed oil and producing some of the most mouthwatering products known to man!

The Fussel's Gift Box contains a bottle of freshly cold pressed extra virgin rapeseed oil, a bottle of chilli rapeseed oil, a jar of classic and mint mayonnaise, a quince and cider vinegar dressing and an FGS beer and horseradish sauce.

And what is more, Fussels rapeseed oil has just won a two star Gold at the Great Taste Awards and Gold at the Taste of the West Awards, the Chilli Oil also won Gold at the Taste of the West Awards and the Beer & Horseradish Sauce won Silver!”

The oils are not only extremely tasty, they are also very healthy and both the jars of mayonnaise were put to very good use in the test kitchen to liven up some meals with more than a little Wow! Factor!

As for the horseradish sauce? It rendered some already perfect beef a sublime experience! As for the quince and cider vinegar dressing? Let's just say that no salad is dressed without it!

To order your gift box go to www.fusselsfinefoods.co.uk/products/fussels-gift-box